DCC endorses incumbent Ruijter for town clerk
Candidates for Board of Finance, Board of Representatives, constable also endorsed
STAMFORD — Lyda Ruijter has received the Democratic City Committee’s endorsement to run for a second term as Stamford’s town clerk.
In a 25-15 vote Sunday, the committee picked Ruijter over Bob Lion, a city representative for District 19 who isn’t seeking reelection. Lion said Monday that he wouldn’t attempt to force a primary.
“The most important thing is to hold this office in Democratic hands in November, so I hope we can all get together,” Ruijter said
after the vote Sunday. “There are a lot of projects in the pipeline that I would like to continue on, and thank you for your support.”
Marilyn Abbazia-Lodato, the owner of Connecticut Liquor Permit, which helps businesses get liquor licenses, is gathering signatures to get on the ballot as an unaffiliated candidate. On Monday, she said the Democratic vote showed that “there is some divide in the party and now is the time for change.”
A GOP candidate for town clerk has yet to be announced. The Republican Town Committee scheduled a nominating convention for Monday evening.
During Sunday’s meeting, the Democratic City Committee endorsed state Rep. Caroline Simmons for mayor in a tight 21-19 vote. Incumbent Mayor David Martin announced that he would collect signatures from registered Democrats in an effort to force a primary election on Sept. 14. The only other candidate who has announced a bid for mayor as of Monday is former Major League Baseball manager Bobby Valentine, who is running unaffiliated.
The Democratic City Committee also endorsed Richard Freedman, Robert Barocas and Leo Zygelman for the powerful Board of Finance, which sets the budget and tax rates. Freedman is currently the chairman of the board.
Separately, the committee endorsed David Mannis as he seeks to finish out the rest of a four-year term on the Board of Finance that David Kooris won in 2019.
Kooris left the board to become the president of the Stamford Downtown Special Services District in January 2020. The Board of Representatives appointed Mannis as Kooris’ replacement a month later, and he has been serving on the finance board ever since, but Stamford’s charter requires a vacancy election to be held at the biennial election following such an appointment.
If Mannis wins, then only one other Democrat can take a seat on the Board of Finance. Under a minority representation rule, members of the same party can hold no more than four seats on the six-member board. Two Democrats, Mary Lou Rinaldi and Geoff Alswanger, aren’t up for reelection this year.
Jon Gallup, Phil Giordano, Gloria DePina and Rodney Pratt were endorsed for constable.
Three candidates for the upcoming Board of Education election were also endorsed: Ben Lee, Versha Munshi-South and Michael Hyman.
Finally, 40 candidates were endorsed for seats on the Board of Representatives.